Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: An Introduction

by Ajit K. Kembhavi , Jayant V. Narlikar

• ISBN13: 9780521474771
• ISBN10: 0521474779
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-04-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book provides an up-to-date and comprehensive account of quasars and active galactic nuclei (AGN). The latest observations and theoretical models are combined in this clear, pedagogic textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Researchers will also find this wide-ranging and coherent review invaluable. Throughout, detailed derivations of important results are provided to ensure the book is self-contained. Theories and models are critically compared with detailed and often puzzling observations from across the spectrum. We are led through all the key topics, including quasar surveys, continuum radiation, time variability, relativistic beaming, accretion disks, jet sidedness, gravitational lensing, unification and detailed, multi-wavelength studies of individual objects. Particular emphasis is placed on radio, X- and gamma-ray observations - not covered in depth in any previous book. All those entering into this exciting and dynamic area of astronomy research will find this book an ideal introduction.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Acronyms and abbreviations	xiii
Historical Background	1	(11)
Introduction: the energy problem	1	(1)
The discovery	2	(2)
The nature of redshift	4	(4)
Physical characteristics: quasars	8	(1)
Physical characteristics: active galactic nuclei	9	(3)
The Cosmological Framework	12	(19)
Introduction	12	(1)
The Robertson--Walker line element	13	(2)
The redshift	15	(1)
Extragalactic radiation fluxes	16	(1)
Hubble's law	17	(1)
The Friedmann models	18	(4)
The A--Cosmologies	22	(2)
Some useful formulae for cosmography	24	(7)
Radiative Processes--I	31	(34)
Introduction	31	(1)
Synchrotron emission from a single particle	31	(3)
Synchrotron emission from an ensemble of electrons	34	(3)
Polarization of Synchrotron radiation	37	(4)
Absorption of Synchrotron radiation	41	(9)
Radio source energetics	50	(1)
Energy loss and he electron spectrum	51	(2)
Relativistic bulk motion	53	(12)
Radiative Processes--II	65	(36)
Thomson scattering	65	(1)
Compton scattering	66	(6)
Multiple Compton scattering	72	(6)
Synchrotron self--Compton emission	78	(2)
Thermal bremsstrahlung emission	80	(1)
Non--thermal pair models	81	(17)
Thermal pair models	98	(2)
Concluding remarks	100	(1)
The Standard Model	101	(21)
Introduction	101	(1)
The formation of a massive black hole	101	(2)
The black hole environment	103	(6)
Characteristic quantities	109	(3)
The accretion disk	112	(6)
Thick disks	118	(4)
Surveys	122	(30)
Introduction	122	(3)
Optical surveys	125	(11)
Radio surveys	136	(2)
X--ray surveys	138	(1)
Completeness of samples	139	(2)
Corrections to measured magnitudes	141	(2)
The surface density of quasars	143	(9)
Luminosity Functions	152	(31)
Introduction	152	(1)
Definition of the luminosity function	153	(1)
Evolution of the luminosity function	154	(3)
Surface density and luminosity function	157	(2)
The Vi/Vm method	159	(3)
Determination of the luminosity function	162	(6)
The quasar luminosity function at low redshifts	168	(5)
The quasar luminosity function at high redshifts	173	(2)
The luminosity function of Seyfert galaxies	175	(2)
Evolutionary scenarios	177	(3)
Bivariate radio--optical luminosity function	180	(2)
Concluding remarks	182	(1)
The Continuum	183	(31)
Introduction	183	(1)
Power law continuum	183	(2)
Thermally dominated objects	185	(5)
Continuum radiation form blazars	190	(1)
Origin of the big blue bump	191	(8)
The infrared continuum	199	(3)
Variability	202	(12)
Radio Properties	214	(59)
Introduction	214	(1)
Radio morphology	215	(5)
Fanaroff--Riley classification	220	(7)
Jets	227	(9)
Compact sources and jets	236	(9)
One--sidedness of jets	245	(10)
The production and collimation of jets	255	(1)
Radio emission from optical	256	(7)
BL Lac objects	263	(10)
X--Ray Emission	273	(39)
Introduction	273	(1)
X--ray observatories	273	(4)
Flux and spectrum	277	(5)
X--ray surveys	282	(6)
X--ray luminosity functions	288	(5)
Broad band X--ray properties	293	(13)
Relativistic beaming of X--ray emission	306	(6)
X--ray and Gamma--Ray Spectra	312	(45)
X--ray spectra	312	(1)
X--ray spectra: Seyfert 1 galaxies	313	(9)
X--ray spectra: Seyfert 2 galaxies	322	(2)
X--ray spectra: quasars	324	(7)
X--ray spectra: BL Lac objects	331	(4)
The diffuse X--ray background	335	(8)
Gamma--ray spectra	343	(6)
Gamma--ray production mechanisms	349	(5)
The diffuse gamma--ray background	354	(3)
Unification	357	(26)
Introduction	357	(2)
The Scheuer--Readhead model	359	(3)
Core--dominated and lobe--dominated quasars	362	(4)
Radio quasars and powerful radio galaxies	366	(8)
BL Lac objects and FR--I galaxies	374	(1)
Seyfert galaxies	375	(8)
Quasar Absorption Lines	383	(7)
Introduction	383	(1)
Broad absorption line systems	384	(1)
Heavy element systems	385	(2)
Lyman--α systems	387	(3)
Gravitational Lensing	390	(17)
The classic tests	390	(1)
The first gravitational lens	391	(2)
The basic features of a gravitational lens	393	(4)
The magnification and amplification of images	397	(2)
Applications to quasars and galaxies	399	(6)
Concluding remarks	405	(2)
Problems And Controversies	407	(19)
Introduction	407	(1)
Quasars, AGN and galaxies	407	(1)
The black hole paradigm	408	(3)
Are quasars at their cosmological distances?	411	(3)
Nonconformist evidence	414	(3)
Non--cosmological alternatives	417	(8)
Concluding remarks	425	(1)
References	426	(25)
Books, reviews and proceedings	451	(3)
Author index	454	(5)
Subject index	459